Attachment A
TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTATION OF HORSES FROM MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION VIA THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, SINGAPORE OR HONG KONG ON SCHEDULED FREIGHTER SERVICES
A GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. The horses must be accompanied by a valid Permit to Import and have fulfilled all the pre-departure quarantine requirements for the importation of horses from Member States of the European Union (EU).
2. The horses must be transported in containers of no lesser standard than both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) General Container Requirements and the specific IATA Container Requirements for domestic or wild horses. Handling procedures must be in accordance with IATA Live Animals Regulations, unless otherwise specified in these requirements.
3. Approved international airports for transit or transhipment of consignments of horses travelling from Member States of the EU to Australia are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Hong Kong. Sharjah is approved for transit only – horses must not be unloaded from the aircraft at Sharjah.
4. Transit permits or approval must be obtained from veterinary authorities in transit ports at least seven (7) days prior to shipment of the consignment.
5. Horses must only travel on regularly scheduled freighter services that have previously been approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Details of the carrier, transport route, transit times and proposed arrangements in any transit port must be approved at least seven (7) days prior to shipment.
6. During transport from the pre export quarantine facility until arrival in Australia, horses must not have contact with any horses not of the same certified health status.
7. An Australian government veterinarian may be required to supervise the pre-export preparation and accompany the consignment of horses to Australia at the importer's expense.
8. Consignments will be subject to periodic audit for compliance with these conditions at the importer's expense.
Edmund Barton Building Barton ACT 9. These requirements may be varied or reviewed at any time at the GPO Box 858 discretion of the Director of Quarantine. Canberra ACT 2601 ph +61 2 6272 3933 fax +61 2 6272 5161 10. Importers must agree to comply with these requirements prior to any www.affa.gov.au transport of horses from Member States of the EU to Australia. Agents and
ABN 24 113 085 695
A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A carriers may be required to sign a Compliance Agreement in accordance with Part VII, Section 66B of the Quarantine Act 1908. B PRE TRANSPORT PROCEDURES
1. A topical, long-acting, insect repellent (eg. containing Permethrin and/or diethyl toluamide or DEET) must be applied to the horses according to manufacturer’s instructions. This treatment is in addition to any acaricide treatments required during preparation of the horses for entry to Australia.
. The insect repellent must be applied immediately prior to leaving the pre-export quarantine premises (PEQ).
. The veterinarian in charge of the PEQ facility must certify application of the insect repellent. A copy of the certificate must accompany the horses to Australia. The certificate must be available for the Loadmaster and Captain of the flight if required. The certificate must state the date and time of application and the product used.
2. The repellent spray and applicator must be carried on the aircraft with the horses.
. If the time of travel from point of departure until the horses arrive in Australia is longer than recommended in the manufacturer’s instructions, reapplication will be required during the journey according to manufacturer’s instructions.
. If the consignment is delayed, reapplication in accordance with manufacturer's instructions may be required.
. If the horses are subjected to conditions that could remove the insect repellent from the horse's coat (eg dampening), the insect repellent must be reapplied according to manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Insect proof netting must be carried on the flight at all times. There must be sufficient netting to completely cover the horse stalls. Netting must be in good condition and effectively prevent the access of insects (mosquitoes) to the horses.
4. An AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insect spray [eg containing D-phenothrin} must also be carried on the flight for use after takes off or in the case of unscheduled landings.
C TRANSIT PROCEDURES
1. Horses remain on board the aircraft at approved transit ports.
1.1 The cargo doors may be opened at AQIS approved transit ports to allow for the unloading or loading of freight. 1.2 Netting does not need to be applied to horse transport containers that remain on board the aircraft. 1.3 The importer/agent must ensure that all welfare needs regarding the horses are addressed including the provision of cooling and extra ventilation if required. 1.4 Immediately after the cargos hold doors are closed an AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insect spray (eg containing D-phenothrin) must be sprayed around the cargo bay, in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. - 2 -
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A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A 2. Horses are off loaded in the United Arab Emirates (excluding Sharjah).
2.1 Prior to opening the cargo door insect repellent may need to be reapplied to the horses if required by the manufacturer's instructions. 2.2 Transit time on the tarmac in the transit port must be less than six (6) hours. 2.3 The importer/agent must ensure that all welfare needs regarding the horses are addressed, including the provision of shade, cooling and extra ventilation if required. 2.4 Immediately after the horses are reloaded and the cargo hold doors are closed, an approved aerosol knockdown insect spray [eg containing D-c] must be sprayed around the cargo bay in the manner recommended by the manufacturer.
3. Horses are off loaded at Singapore or Hong Kong and any horse in the consignment not vaccinated for JE.
3.1 Prior to opening the cargo door, insect repellent may need to be reapplied to the horses if required by the manufacturer's instructions. 3.2 Prior to, or immediately after unloading, the horse transport containers must be completely covered in netting to prevent insect (mosquitoes) access to the horses. The netting must remain in place until the horses are reloaded on an aircraft. 3.2 The importer/agent must ensure that all welfare needs regarding the horses held under netting are addressed, including the provision of shade, cooling and extra ventilation if required. 3.3 Transit time on tarmac in the transit port must be less than six (6) hours. 3.4 Immediately after the horses are reloaded on an aircraft and the cargo hold doors are closed, an AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insect spray (eg containing D- phenothrin) must be sprayed around the cargo bay in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. 3.5 The insect netting must not be removed until thirty (30) minutes after the application of the aerosol knockdown insect spray as in 3.4 above.
4. Horses are offloaded at Singapore or Hong Kong, all horses in the consignment fully vaccinated for JE. 1
4.1 Prior to opening the cargo door, insect repellent may need to be reapplied to the horses if required by the manufacturer's instructions. 4.2 The importer/agent must ensure that all welfare needs regarding the horses are addressed, including the provision of shade, cooling and extra ventilation if required. 4.3 Transit time in the transit port must be less than six (6) hours. 4.4 Immediately after the horses are reloaded and the cargo hold doors are closed an AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insect spray (eg containing D-phenothrin) must be sprayed around the cargo bay in the manner recommended by the manufacturer.
1 Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis (JE) is required not more than twelve months before entering the pre-export quarantine facility. An approved inactivated vaccine must be used, either twice 30 days apart, in the case of primo-vaccination, or once as a booster to a primary course. Certification of JE vaccination must accompany the horses to Australia. - 4 -
A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A 5. If reloading of the horses at any transit port is delayed and the consignment will spend more than six (6) hours on tarmac.
5.1 The entire consignment should be transported directly to an insect proof facility under quarantine control and held there until an onward flight is available. 5.2 Insect repellents are to be reapplied to the horses in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, prior to the horses leaving the insect proof holding facilities to reboard an aircraft for an onward flight.
D PROCEDURES FOR UNSCHEDULED LANDINGS
1. If the aircraft lands at any airport, other than Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Singapore, Hong Kong, or an Australian port, but remains operative with the cargo doors closed the following procedures must be followed:
1.1 Personnel accompanying the consignment are to notify AQIS by telephone of the unscheduled landing as soon as possible. Please refer to Attachment 1. If telephone contact is not possible while the aircraft is on the ground, attempts must continue during the rest of the flight to ensure that AQIS officials at the port of import are familiar with the alteration to schedule before the aircraft lands in Australia. 1.2 Immediately upon landing in the unapproved port, the transport containers must be completely covered in netting to prevent insects having any access to the horses. The netting must remain in place until the aircraft is again airborne and the aircraft has been sprayed as in 1.5 below. 1.3 Arrangements are to be made to enable attendants, traveling with the horses, to remain in the cargo bay with the horses over the period of the unscheduled landing. 1.4 The cargo hold is to remain fully closed, with the air-conditioner operating, while the aircraft is on the ground. Additional external ventilation and cooling, as required to take account of the welfare needs of horses held under netting, should be provided to the cargo hold. 1.5 An AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insecticide spray (eg containing D-phenothrin) is to be sprayed around the cargo bay in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. This insecticide must be applied as soon as the aircraft lands and must be reapplied at the recommended interval and rate until after the consignment is again airborne. Once airborne the netting can be removed thirty (30) minutes after the final spray. 1.6 The Loadmaster or Captain of the flight must provide certification that the cargo hold doors remained closed, detailing the date and time of application of insecticides and arrival and departure times en route. The certificate must accompany the horses to their final destination. 1.7 If the horses are permitted to travel on to Australia, the location and length of the period of post-arrival quarantine will be reconsidered in light of the risk to which the horses may have been exposed.
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A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A 2. If the aircraft lands at an airport, other than Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, Singapore, Hong Kong, or an Australian port, and the cargo bay is opened, or the horses are unloaded then the following procedures must be followed:
2.1 Personnel accompanying the consignment are to notify AQIS by telephone of the unscheduled landing as soon as possible. Please refer to Attachment 1. Contact with AQIS must be maintained at the frequency requested until the fate of the consignment has been determined. If telephone contact is not possible while the aircraft is on the ground, attempts must continue during the rest of the flight to ensure that AQIS officials at the port of import are familiar with the alteration to schedule before the aircraft lands in Australia. 2.2 Prior to opening the cargo doors in the unscheduled port, the stalls are to be covered with insect proof netting in such a manner as to preclude insect access to the horses. Additional ventilation and cooling, as required to take into account the welfare needs of horses held under netting, is to be provided. Attendants should remain with the consignment. 2.3 If the airport is in a region in which African horse sickness or Rift Valley fever is currently endemic (a current list of countries reporting to the OIE in which these diseases are endemic is at Attachment 2) the horses are not to proceed to Australia without AQIS approval. 2.4 If the horses have to be removed from the plane every attempt should be made to keep the horses under cover and free from insect attack by careful use of netting and topical insect repellent. If available, at or adjacent to the airport, horses should be held in insect proof facilities. The horses must remain isolated from other equids. 2.5 If the horses are approved to proceed to Australia, then as soon as the horses are reloaded and/or the cargo door is closed again an AQIS approved aerosol knockdown insecticide spray (eg. containing D-phenothrin) must be sprayed around the cargo bay in the manner recommended by the manufacturer. 2.6 The insect proof netting is not to be removed until thirty (30) minutes after the application of the insect spray as in 2.5 above. 2.7 The length and location of the period of post-arrival quarantine in Australia will be reconsidered in light of the risk to which the horses have been exposed. 2.8 A statement providing details of the management of the consignment of horses during the stop is to be provided by the Loadmaster or Captain of the flight. The statement must include the name of the transit port and arrival and departure times. It must provide certification of the date and time of application of the insecticides, the use of netting, all details of any other action taken to preclude vector insects from access to the horses and action taken to address the welfare requirements of the horses. The statement must accompany the horses to their final destination. 2.9 If the horses are not approved to proceed to Australia, the personnel accompanying the horses are to implement any procedures detailed by AQIS regarding the repatriation or disposal of the horses, at the importer's expense. 2.10 If the horses are not approved by AQIS to proceed to Australia, the horses are not to proceed to the UAE, Singapore or Hong Kong, without the explicit permission of veterinary authorities in those ports.
DAVID BANKS - 6 -
A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A General Manager Animal Biosecurity
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A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A Attachment 1
Contact numbers in case of unscheduled landings
AQIS
Section Phone Number AQIS NSW – Principal Veterinary Officer, 61 2 9363 7393 Animal Quarantine AQIS NSW Regional 24 hour contact number – 61 2 9364 7268 Air Cargo Unit. Contact can be made with a quarantine vet out of office hours through this number.
AQIS Victoria – Principal Veterinary Officer, 61 3 9330 3719 Animal Quarantine 61 418 242 696 AQIS Victoria Regional 24 hour contact number. 61 3 9297 1936 Contact can be made with a quarantine vet out of 61 408 250 600 office hours through this number.
AQIS Canberra – Manager, Animal Programs 61 2 6272 5506 61 438 459 438
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A G R I C U L T U R E , F I S H E R I E S A N D F O R E S T R Y - A U S T R A L I A Attachment 2
COUNTRIES IN WHICH AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS OCCURS
Nations reporting outbreaks of African horse sickness to the OIE during 1993 to 2001 inclusive:
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Senegal, Zimbabwe.
African nations which did not report:
Chad, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Tanzania.
COUNTRIES IN WHICH RIFT VALLEY FEVER OCCURS
Nations reporting outbreaks of Rift Valley fever during 1996 to 2001 inclusive:
Kenya, Malawi, Republic of South Africa, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
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